American Airlines said Friday that 2,205 flight attendants signed up for the early-out option by Thursday night’s deadline and the $40,000 bonus that goes with it.

That enthusiastic response means that the air carrier, which once warned that it might have to furlough as many as 2,300 flight attendants, won’t furlough any. In fact, it said it would begin recruiting new flight attendants later this year.

“In October, our flight attendants who signed up for the voluntary exit will be able to request a desired month of departure, and we will then stagger departures over the next year, based on seniority and operational needs,” he said.

Association of Professional Flight Attendants president Laura Glading, who had fought to get the voluntary early-out program put in the flight attendants’ new contract, congratulated the flight attendants who took the buyout and wished them well.

“The tremendous response from those electing to leave the company with the $40,000 that accompanies their exit will benefit the entire membership,” Glading said in a message to members Friday afternoon.

“In the coming year, flight attendants will be moving up the seniority list and off reserve,” she said. “And not only will furloughs now be avoided completely, but the VEOP participants will finally be able to enjoy a well-deserved retirement.”

APFA members approved a six-year contract in August with American that freezes pensions, requires flight attendants to work more hours, increases the employee contribution for medical insurance and makes other concessions. It included a $1,500 bonus for all active employees as of Friday and an increase in base pay rates.

The carrier has had flight attendants on furlough since just after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. It recently offered recalls to the last 211 still on the layoff list, of whom 141 accepted the offer to return to work.

The $40,000 bonus was open to all flight attendants with at least 15 years of service. With no new hires since 2001, that made the program open to a majority of American’s 16,000-plus flight attendants.

For Janis Adams of Dallas, the decision to accept the offer was easy.

Adams, who began working as an American flight attendant in 1970, planned to retire in April at age 66. “I’m one of the lucky ones,” she said.

Other flight attendants struggled with their decision.

“It’s an interesting reaction with most people of my seniority. Some of them who are retirement age are still hesitant to go because they’re hooked on being in Europe once a week. They love the layovers.

“They love the hotels. Of course, that’s all going to be changing,” said Adams, who flies mostly international flights to London and Frankfurt, Germany.

“So I think most of them, after careful consideration and talking with financial advisers, they decided to go. I think there are going to be very few my age who stay. But there are a few who can’t afford to leave,” she said.

American saw a reduction in cancellations Friday after suffering a spike in recent days, with fewer than two dozen flights canceled by early evening. However, the carrier’s on-time performance remained poor, with more than 40 percent of its flights arriving at least 15 minutes late, according to FlightStats.com.

Hicks said American’s decision to eliminate 1 to 2 percent of its flights perhaps “is having the benefit we thought it would in reducing the number of unscheduled or unplanned cancellations, which has the most impact on our passengers.”

He said the delays “are still running way above any acceptable levels,” which he attributed to an increased number of aircraft maintenance write-ups.

Suzanne L. Rubin, president of American’s AAdvantage frequent-flier program, sent emails to AAdvantage members Friday to acknowledge the carrier’s “operational challenges.”

“Whatever the circumstance, I am truly sorry for any inconvenience to you,” she wrote. “I also want to let you know what’s going on and assure you that we stand ready to help.”